The County Jail.

Published: January 12, 1862

To the Editor of the New-York Times:

This building is situated in Eldridge-street, on a lot twenty-five feet by eighty feet; building twenty-five feet by fifty, and is three-story and basement, built of brick. It appears to be an old house altered into what bears the above title. Extension in rea twenty-five feet by eighteen, one story; yard twenty-five feet by twelve, with a high fence. The entrance to the building for prisoners and visitors is through a dark and gloomy basement hall. The Keeper's office is in the front basement rooms. The kitchen is in the rear basement, where the cooking for prisoners and keepers is done. The basement is four or five feet deep from the surface of the ground. The Keeper's dwelling is in the front room on the first story. In the rear on the same floor appears to be reception rooms. The third story is divided into two long rooms, from front to rear, and about ten feet wide by forty-six feet deep, and one about twelve feet wide by thirty feet deep, lighted with iron-grated windows. In these two apartments such prisoners as pay the Keeper ten dollars a week board, sleep, and they have access during the day to the public reception room, and to the small yard, in which there is a privy. At the price named they are boarded, and eat at the Keeper's private table. Woe to the "poor devil" who cannot pay that sum.

In the two rooms above described there are sometimes as many as forty-five persons compelled to stay and sleep (if perchance they can) from 10 o'clock at night to 7 in the morning. There being very little, if any, ventilation, the condition of the air in offensiveness rivals the hold of a slave-ship, or the black-hole of Calcutta.

The second story has rooms and cells where prisoners, who cannot pay additionally a week for board, are locked up in close confinement continually, night and day. Persons have been so confined for one, two and three years. The whole size of the story inside the walls is twenty-three feet by forty-six feet, out of which is taken the halls and stairway, seven feet by twenty. This story has got four or eight cells upon each side -- some dark, and wholly unventilated. A passageway runs the whole length from front to rear, about eight feet wide by forty-six feet long. There are five grated windows to this story -- three in front and two in the rear -- with outside iron blinds set at an angle upward, so as to let in some light; but all view of the busy street is wholly cut off. The cells are constructed of heavy plank, and the walls inside are lined with plank. These complete cells for vermin are admirably provided.

In the rear passage between the cells, on the second story, is a water-closet, to which all the prisoners are obliged to go. This adds its nauseating stench to the sickening and foul air of the place. In the limited space twenty-five persons are frequently confined, with no fresh air or room for exercise except this narrow passage before named. Visitors are admitted from 10 to 4, who, after a short visit, carry away in their clothing and insinuated into the pores of the skin the aroma of the foul and fetid atmosphere of the place. The air is consequently almost stifling.

The sleeping accommodations are straw beds and coarse blankets, no sheets. The prison fare is poor and scanty. They who happen to be without money or friends fare worse than a man either in the State prison, provided by the county or the State, or either Penitentiary provided by the qucen of cities.

In this prison are confined the county prisoners, (criminals being better cared for and made more comfortable at the Tombs,) unfortunate non-resident debtors, those who refuse, or cannot, pay the fines imposed by the Courts, persons committed for contempt of Court, &c.

Such a prison is now tolerated in this Christian City, in this land of civilization. Is it consistent with the claims of humanity, or the spirit of the age in which we live?